Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu
About Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu
On Strada Mitropoliei, a few minutes from the Great Square (Piața Mare), stands the main church of the Archdiocese of Sibiu and the Metropolis of Transylvania, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The idea of an Orthodox cathedral in the seat of the metropolis came from Metropolitan Andrei Șaguna, who launched the fundraising in 1857 with the approval of Emperor Franz Joseph, himself the first donor. The money was gathered over decades, and work only began in 1902, on the site of a small "Greek" church from the end of the 18th century, which was demolished at the time.
The design won a competition with 31 entries and is the work of the architects Virgil Nagy and József Kommer, professors at the Budapest Polytechnic; the building site was run by the city architect, Iosif Schussnig. The model was Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, on a smaller scale: a Neo-Byzantine basilica with a central dome 15 m across, supported by half-domes, and two 45 m towers on the front. The exposed brick walls alternate yellow and red bands. The cathedral was consecrated on 30 April 1906 (13 May in the new style) by Metropolitan Ioan Mețianu, in the presence of Nicolae Iorga.
What you can see
On the front, above the three-arched portico, mosaic medallions of Christ and saints surround the large semicircular window. Inside, your eye is drawn up to the 24.7 m high dome, where Octavian Smigelschi, helped by Arthur Coulin, painted Christ Pantocrator, with the four Evangelists on the pendentives, in a manner influenced by Art Nouveau. Smigelschi also painted the icons of the iconostasis, carved in gilded lime wood in Bucharest, in the workshop of C. M. Babic, which also made the bishop's throne. The walls of the nave and the colonnaded galleries were only painted in the second half of the 20th century, and in 2007 the paintings were cleaned and restored. The west tower holds the great bell, weighing 1,345 kg, from 1904.
Good to know
The cathedral belongs to the historic centre of Sibiu, on UNESCO's Tentative List since 2004 (it is not a World Heritage Site). It is a working cathedral, with services on Sundays and feast days, and its patronal feast is held on Whit Monday; during services, visits should be quiet, without walking around the church.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The 24.7 m dome, with Christ Pantocrator painted by Octavian Smigelschi and the four Evangelists on the pendentives.
- The iconostasis in gilded lime wood, carved in Bucharest in the workshop of C. M. Babic, with icons by Smigelschi.
- The front with its bands of yellow and red brick, the two 45 m towers and the mosaic medallions above the portico.
- The rounded apses and half-domes seen from behind the cathedral, where the silhouette most recalls Hagia Sophia.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Sibiu is on the A1 motorway. Cluj-Napoca is ~180 km away (~2 hours 15 minutes on the A3, A10 and A1, via Turda and Sebeș), Brașov ~145 km on the DN1, via Făgăraș (~2 hours 30 minutes), and Bucharest ~265 km on the A1, via Pitești, then through the Olt Valley (~4 hours). The cathedral is in the upper town, on Strada Mitropoliei, about 400 m from the Great Square.
Public transport: Sibiu railway station is ~1.5 km away, about 20 minutes on foot, walking up to the upper town. From the Great Square it is ~5 minutes on foot, heading south-west.
- Where to park
The cathedral has no car park for visitors. On the surrounding streets you park in the paid zone of the historic centre (at the machine, by text message or in the app); in summer and at weekends the spaces fill up quickly, and on Sundays, during the service, even faster.
- Fees & discounts
Entry to the cathedral is free, with no ticket. Candles can be bought at the church shop.
- Rules
This is a working cathedral: modest dress (shoulders and knees covered, men bareheaded), quiet, no food or drink. During services, do not walk around the church or take photos; at other times, it is best to ask whether photos are allowed inside.
- Facilities
church shop with candles and religious items · steps at the main entrance · 360° virtual tour on the cathedral's website · services streamed on the cathedral's YouTube channel · cafés and restaurants in the historic centre, a few minutes' walk away
Frequently asked questions about Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu
- How much is a ticket to Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu?
- Admission to Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu is free (candles at the church shop). Entry to the cathedral is free, with no ticket. Candles can be bought at the church shop.
- How long does a visit to Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu take?
- A visit to Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu takes about 30 min (the interior and the front).
- Can you visit Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu with kids?
- Yes, Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu is suitable for children (quiet during services).
- Where can I park at Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu?
- There is paid parking at Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu (on-street, paid zone). The cathedral has no car park for visitors. On the surrounding streets you park in the paid zone of the historic centre (at the machine, by text message or in the app); in summer and at weekends the spaces fill up quickly, and on Sundays, during the service, even faster.
- How do I get to Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu?
- Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu is located at Strada Mitropoliei nr. 33, Sibiu, Sibiu County. By car: Sibiu is on the A1 motorway. Cluj-Napoca is ~180 km away (~2 hours 15 minutes on the A3, A10 and A1, via Turda and Sebeș), Brașov ~145 km on the DN1, via Făgăraș (~2 hours 30 minutes), and Bucharest ~265 km on the A1, via Pitești, then through the Olt Valley (~4 hours). The cathedral is in the upper town, on Strada Mitropoliei, about 400 m from the Great Square. Public transport: Sibiu railway station is ~1.5 km away, about 20 minutes on foot, walking up to the upper town. From the Great Square it is ~5 minutes on foot, heading south-west.
- When is the best time to visit Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu?
- The best season for Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu: All year round (patronal feast on Whit Monday).
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